Duchess of Sussex confirms 2018 warning on father's Philippine probe

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, said she was informed of serious allegations against her father in 2018.

In a statement sent to CBS News on Friday, the duchess described herself as deeply distressed by reports that Thomas Markle is under investigation in the Philippines. She stated that a letter containing troubling claims was sent to the Metropolitan Police and its Royalty and Specialist Protection unit that year. The duchess said she received a copy of that letter and was told the matter was being investigated.

Philippine state media confirmed on Friday that the Department of Justice is investigating an American man in his eighties. The state-run Philippine News Agency said authorities are looking into reports that the man left child abuse videos and photos in his home in Cebu province. A Filipino justice official told the agency that the department's anti-trafficking task force is handling the case and identified Thomas Markle Sr. as the subject of the probe.

The investigation follows a report by The Sun on Thursday that Thomas Markle Jr., the elder Markle's son, reported the allegations to Philippine authorities. The Daily Mail reported on Friday that Markle Jr. found the materials in storage boxes at the family home while his father was in the United States receiving treatment for a stroke and blood clot. Markle Jr. reportedly first saw the items after turning on an old cell phone at the residence. He told the Mail that he reported the findings to an FBI hotline, the National Center for Exploited and Missing Children, and state police in Pennsylvania in July.

Thomas Markle Sr. denied the claims, telling the Daily Mail that he had never downloaded such material. He called the allegations sick lies.

The Metropolitan Police said it is aware of media reports that officers from its Royalty and Specialist Protection Command helped pass on a letter in 2018. A spokesperson for the force said it is undertaking internal enquiries to confirm the details. The Met stated that it has not investigated Thomas Markle and is not currently doing so.

The duchess addressed the distance between herself and her father, stating that she limited contact to protect her children. She said her sincerest hope is that justice will be fully served and that the priority remains the safety and protection of innocent children.